The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is high among older adults worldwide, significantly affecting their quality of life and overall health. Understanding the prevalence of MSDs and their associated factors is crucial to developing effective preventive and management strategies in Thailand. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of MSDs and their associated factors among older patients at Walailak University Physical Therapy Clinic. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the medical records of 396 older patients. Data on demographics, underlying diseases, career types, and treatments were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics chi-squared tests, and logistic regression analysis to determine their associations with MSD prevalence. The overall prevalence of MSDs was 89.90%. MSD prevalence was higher among female patients than among male patients (p < 0.001). The most commonly affected body regions were the lower back, shoulders, and knees. Career type (p < 0.001) had the highest impact on the presence of MSDs after controlling for sex, age, and underlying diseases as covariates in a logistic regression model. Manual labor and heavy industry workers as well as pensioners showed an increased risk of MSDs. While older age was associated with a higher MSD prevalence using chi-squared statistics, it was removed from the logistic regression models. Pensioners were the most likely to receive treatment, indicating the need for targeted interventions for individuals with physically demanding occupations. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and further research on socioeconomic factors, lifestyle behaviors, and comorbidities to manage MSDs among older adults in Thailand.

Severe upper limb motor paralysis following a stroke significantly limits patients' daily function and quality of life. While traditional therapies like constraint-induced therapy, muscle strengthening, and exercise are commonly used, they often lack effectiveness for severe cases due to their reliance on voluntary movement. In contrast, mirror therapy and contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) have shown potential by directly engaging neural pathways to promote recovery. This case report describes combining two methods to create a more effective approach for enhancing motor recovery in patients with severe upper limb deficits. A 59-year-old Japanese male presented with left hemiplegia following a right subcortical hemorrhage. Following craniotomy and cranioplasty, he was transferred to our facility for rehabilitation. Upon initiation of occupational therapy, comprehensive assessments revealed profound motor impairments in the left upper extremity, with a Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score of 17/66 at the start of therapy and initial Motor Activity Log (MAL) scores of amount of use (AOU) 1.5 and quality of movement (QOM) 1.0 at week four. A combined regimen of mirror therapy and CCFES was administered over 16 weeks. During this time, the patient exhibited substantial improvements in motor function, with the FMA-UE score increasing to 52/66 and the MAL scores improving to AOU 3.6 and QOM 3.9 by week 16. This study suggests that a rehabilitation strategy combining mirror therapy with CCFES can effectively enhance motor recovery in patients with severe upper limb motor paralysis. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution as they are based on a preliminary single-patient case study. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm the efficacy of this combined approach and assess its long-term benefits.

Locomotive syndrome (LS) predisposes older adults to falls and functional dependency. In older adults with LS, the validity of the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-LQ)—a dynamic balance assessment tool—remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the convergent validity of the YBT-LQ with the Two-Step and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests and compare YBT-LQ performance between individuals with and without LS. Sixty Thai community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years) were equally divided into LS and non-LS groups and performed the YBT-LQ, Two-Step test, and TUG test. Correlation analyses and independent t-tests assessed relationships and between-group comparisons, respectively. The YBT-LQ exhibited moderate positive correlations with the Two-Step test (r = 0.366, p = 0.004) and moderate negative correlations with the TUG test (r = −0.412, p = 0.001). The LS group exhibited significantly lower YBT-LQ scores across all reach directions than the non-LS group (p < 0.05), highlighting impaired balance in individuals with LS. The YBT-LQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing dynamic balance and postural control, as well as identifying multidirectional stability deficits in older adults, particularly those with LS. Implementing the YBT-LQ in routine geriatric evaluations could enhance early detection and targeted interventions to reduce fall risk and improve mobility in aging populations.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) compared with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for upper limb motor impairment in people after stroke.

Locomotive Syndrome (LS), a condition related to impaired mobility, is influenced by balance control, which comprises six components. Deficiencies in these components can lead to reduced mobility and decreased quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the components of postural control and LS in older adults using the Brief-BESTest. Therefore, this cross-sectional study involved 122 elderly participants from Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, both with and without LS. Participants underwent assessments using the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) assessment, the Thai Mental State Examination (TMSE), the Two-Step Test, and the Brief-BESTest. The Brief-BESTest covers six balance components: Biomechanical Constraints, Stability Limits, Anticipatory Postural Adjustments, Postural Responses, Sensory Orientation, and Stability in Gait. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics, and Chi-square tests were conducted to examine the relationship between each balance component and LS. Cramer’s V was used to assess the strength of the relationships. The results showed the average age of the sample was 67.67 ± 6.01 years with 85.20 percent female and 14.80 percent male. There were significant relationships between LS and three balance components: Biomechanical Constraints (Chi-square = 5.35, p = 0.021, Cramer’s V = 0.209), Stability Limits (Chi-square = 5.00, p = 0.025, Cramer’s V = 0.204), and Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (left: Chi-square = 4.12, p = 0.042, Cramer’s V = 0.213; right: Chi-square = 5.50, p = 0.019, Cramer’s V = 0.213). No significant associations were found for Reactive Postural Response, Sensory Orientation, and Stability in Gait. These findings suggest that targeted interventions focusing on specific balance components consist of Biomechanical Constraints, Stability Limits, and Anticipatory Postural Adjustments could help reduce the risk of LS in older adults.

Locomotive syndrome, characterized by impaired mobility due to musculoskeletal disorders, poses a significant public health challenge, especially in the aging population. Locomotive syndrome limits physical activity, increases fall risk, leads to dependency, and diminishes quality of life. Effective interventions are urgently required. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy in improving the symptoms of locomotive syndrome. A systematic evaluation of its effectiveness compared with other interventions is crucial for informing clinical practice and policy decisions. This systematic review and meta-analysis follows the PRISMA-P guidelines. Studies involving individuals diagnosed with locomotive syndrome, without restrictions on age, sex, or location, were included. The interventions that are reviewed encompass exercise programs, manual therapy, neuromuscular stimulation, and balance training, which are be compared with no intervention or alternative therapies. The primary outcomes include improvements in functional mobility and physical performance, a reduction in symptoms, and the progression of locomotive syndrome. Secondary outcomes include adherence to therapy, safety, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Randomized controlled and non-randomized controlled trials published in English were searched from PubMed, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PEDro, Ichushi Web, and the Thai-Journal Citation Index Center. Independent reviewers performed data extraction and assess the risk of bias. A meta-analyses was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software, with subgroup analyses to address heterogeneity. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. This review aims to provide robust evidence on the effectiveness of physical therapy in managing locomotive syndrome and to guide clinical practice and healthcare policy decisions.